The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to making the state a benchmark for excellence in various sectors of the economy.
Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele made this known while receiving a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) led by National President Prof. Pius Olanrewaju in her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
According to Engr. Salako-Oyedele, the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has implemented policies that have made Ogun State the preferred destination for investors over the last five years.
She cited the emergence of new companies across the state as evidence of the effectiveness of these policies, which have significantly improved the living standards of residents.
The Deputy Governor highlighted the administration’s remarkable achievements in the agricultural sector, particularly the recent launch of rice harvesting on 200 hectares of land near the Ogun River floodplain in Magboro.
This project is expected to produce approximately 14,000 bags of rice within three months.
Engr. Salako-Oyedele emphasized the government’s dedication to leaving a lasting legacy that would make Ogun State the envy of other states.
“His Excellency is working on expanding the programme to about 2,000 hectares and we are going to bring in more young people who have no history of farming. We will train them and give them support so that they can start in this agric-business.
“This is the type of activity where we need the support of bankers for the smaller scale sector, who to bankers, are risky businesses but they are the backbone of the economy because they employ thousands of people, improve food security and make our country a better place”, she said.
Tasking the bankers to increase their penetration in the rural areas, to reduce rural-urban migration, Engr. Salako-Oyedele noted that lack of access to facilities such as banks, can discourage rural dwellers, thereby compelling them to abandon their agricultural activities.
Earlier, the President of CIBN, Prof. Olanrewaju, who made the state his first port of call since his Investiture, lauded the present administration for its sterling performance so far, saying its efforts in increasing the presence of more industries in the state were in preparation for the future.
According to him, the Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport being constructed by the government in Ilisan area of the state, remains a legacy project and a commendable one.
“I want to give credit to this administration for what they are doing. I saw companies springing up at Ogere, Sagamu-Abeokuta Road. An airport is also being built. It is not just an airport, it is a preparation for the future”, he said.
